Supreme Court clerks need to have the right "feeder clerkship,"
often in a federal appellate court or even in both a trial and an
appellate court.

Clerks also have to place in the top of their class, secure elite
scholarships, and belong to their schools' best law reviews,
according to Stotland.

But that might not be enough.

"The big thing, among the people with the right law schools and
the right grades and the right scholarly experience on the law
review is who are your recommenders and how much do they love
you," Stotland said.

Edsall graduated Yale Law in 2010 and previously clerked for
Judge Brett Kavanaugh, a well known judge on the federal appeals
court in Washington, D.C.

A clerk for another right-leaning justice, Samuel Alito, is also
pretty impressive.

Claire McCusker Murray scored
the coveted Temple Bar Scholarship, which allowed her to work
in barristers' chambers in London and in the U.K. Supreme Court
before going on to work for Alito in the U.S., according to
American Inns of Court.

In addition to their legal accomplishments, the entire class of
clerks might also share a personal connection with the justices.

Supreme Court justices have the luxury of choosing from the best
of the best, so they are able to make their selections based on
really personal criteria, according to Stotland.